While debates about whether to build nuclear reactors rage on and the developed world frets about its reliance on imported gas, the issue of coal is often overlooked. But a growing number of energy industry figures believe that coal, and technology that reduces its impact on the environment, will be one of the fastest-growing parts of the energy market in the coming decades.

Coal is abundant and relatively cheap. China and India have huge coal reserves and are using it to fuel their rapid economic development. But coal is a dirty fuel, and burning it in power stations produces significantly more carbon dioxide than burning gas. If the burning of coal goes unchecked, the effect on the global climate and sea levels is likely to be catastrophic.